Boxing Match: Haney vs Prograis

After earning the undisputed lightweight championship of the world, the undefeated Devin Haney moved up in weight to challenge Regis Prograis for Prograis' WBC junior welterweight title on Saturday night in San Francisco. This highly anticipated matchup had boxing fans on the edge of their seats, as the winner had the potential to become a true superstar in the sport.

The first round was closely contested, with Prograis possibly having a slight edge. Both fighters displayed their skills and landed sharp shots in the second round. In a surprising turn of events, Haney managed to knock Prograis down in the final moments of the round, although it had little impact on the overall outcome. The third round saw Haney deliver another knockdown, showcasing his dominance in the fight. Throughout the fourth round, Haney maintained his distance and continued to land effective punches, further solidifying his lead.

By the fifth it was clear that Haney simply could not land effectively on the masterful challenger. Prograis fought beautifully in the sixth, sticking, moving, and landing effectively. In the final moments of the round, Prograis rocked his man again. Bottom line – Haney was getting beat up. Sure enough, Haney looked hesitant to try to move in on Prograis in the seventh. It was looking like the fight might not go the distance.

Prograis' world class performance continued in the eighth, as he kept hitting without getting hit himself. Haney looked like a beaten man, mentally, and – increasingly – physically. Prograis rocked Haney yet again in the ninth. He didn’t go for the kill, however, likely because he knew Haney still possessed fight ending power. “We’re not going to sit there and let you take punishment,” Haney’s corner told him in between rounds. Haney went on to barely throw punches in the tenth.

The penultimate round essentially offered more of the same, Prograis – viscous but not reckless – was simply too good a boxer for Haney. It wasn’t Haney's fault. He simply wasn’t the fighter Prograis was. The final round saw Haney, to his credit, try to make something happen. Boxing had seen plenty of eleventh hour knockouts down through the decades, but it wasn’t seeing one this night. The fight belonged to Prograis, who, after the final bell had rung, was awarded a wide unanimous decision win, courtesy of the judges. “I did everything I said I was going to do,” the new champion said afterward.

Without doubt, Prograis is now absolutely a legitimate star.